Merit Badge Sash

[croushorn]

Wearing the sash on the left shoulder will cover over the Scout's rank. All the images in any publications show it over the right.

 

Adding a loop would be great, watching a Scout fight to keep it up during COHs can be hilarious.

 

At least the OA sash is narrow enough to fit under the epaulette. I know we didnt change the sash width in 79 with the DLR uni, it just worked out that way. I always thought they just planned it that way (I know, I know).

 

[nolesrule]

The insignia guide (at least the one I have) doesn't specify which shoulder, however, the drawing included shows it worn over the right shoulder. Also, the Scouting Magazine from May-June 1999 answered this question about proper wearing of sashes in the Letters section:

 

"The merit badge sash is worn only on formal occasions, and its correct position is over the right shoulder. The Order of the Arrow sash also goes over the right shoulder (but under the epaulet). It is worn on formal Order of the Arrow occasions or service projects and, according to the Order of the Arrow Handbook, "it is not to be worn in any other manner."

 

http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/9905/d-lett.html

 

Besides, this is the only way that the left pocket (with rank badges) would remain uncovered.

[FireKat]

For anyone interested, I found a good way to keep the numbers together tighly. I baste them together before puting them on (makes them one large patch) I do stich around each number for security.

Also if you have troubles with fraying of the patches (or any other parts of the shirt, like buttonholes) use ant type of a fray check that can be found in most places with sewing stuff. I have used it to secure cut edges of numbers when the machines cut through the border threads. It also holds down ant loose threads on the field of a patch.

[emb021]

Current Insignia Guide does not SAY which shoulder, but the picture clearly shows it on the right shoulder, and in rows of 3 merit badges.

 

http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/06D.aspx

[liperazs]

I am all in favor of getting a long sash. I grew to 6'3" and still growing

 

I have all of my rank patches and scout camp patches on the back of my sash, is that right?

[Gold Winger]

"I have all of my rank patches and scout camp patches on the back of my sash, is that right?"

 

Uhhhh . . . no. Camp patches are okay as are just about any other patch from ships, trails, or what have you. However, rank patches are supposed to be put into a drawer and saved for your grandkids.

 

 

[liperazs]

Thanks for clearing that up, I'll have to take them off...

[emb021]

From the Insignia Guide:

 

"Members may wear only temporary patches (no badges of rank) on the back of the merit badge sash. Members may wear only one merit badge sash at a time. A merit badge sash is never worn on the belt."

 

http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/03.aspx (under "excessive insignia")

[LaurieBear]

ehemm.... ON the new shirts.. the Left chest pocket is very very small. I had tried to sew the rank patch on and couldn't fit my hand.. nor my son's into it, in order to hand stitch the rank patch on. So.. we opted to sew the pocket shut.

[Narraticong]

I did the same thing last night, LaurieBear! There was no way my hand was going to fit in that pocket due to the "pencil pocket". I was able to sew my Scoutmaster patch on to the sleeve pocket.

 

What a pain!

[BigAppleGNYC]

I was wondering if i should start sewing the merit badges up where my shoulder is, leaving empty space underneath them, or more towards the middle of the sash, leaving empty space on the top and bottom.

[BDPT00]

No, not in the middle.

I'd start 3 or 4 inches from the seam and go down. If it happens to ever get filled up, you can plan ahead to leave room for 2 or 3 rows at the top.

BDPT00

[le Voyageur]

Don't worry about the spacing...from my own experience you can get 91 MB's on one of the 3 wide sash with no problem

[thunderbolt]

regarding rank patches and pocket sewing shut is there a reason that Velcro is not used since the rank is (in theory) changed on a fairly regular basis? if done in the factory before pocket is sewn on shirt then you don't sew shut. the same can be done for other patches that change (ie.. spl and pl)

[Eagle92]

If you take a seam ripper to the "pen pocket" portion of the left pocket, it opens up the pocket enough for sewing on rank patches.

 

As for the POR patch on the "smokes pocket," if you take your time and hand sew it, it's doable. Tedious, yes, but doable. Hopefully I won't have to change my CSDL patch until next June when oldest becomes a Webelos, and middle son becomes a Tiger, but "I have a bad feeling about this."